BA boost for Glasgow-Heathrow service
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Sat 09 Jun 12 @ 22:11
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is delighted that British Airways is increasing capacity on its Glasgow - Heathrow service by 25 percent to meet demand.
The increase means an additional 4,000 seats a week will available on the route during the 2011/2012 winter flying season compared with the corresponding 2010/2011 winter season.
From January 2012, the number of return services per week between Glasgow and Heathrow will increase to 67, providing 134 flights between the airports.
In the corresponding period last year British Airways operated a maximum of 57 roundtrips per week.
In addition to more flights, capacity on the Glasgow - Heathrow route will be boosted by using 252-seat Boeing 767 aircraft to operate return services four times a week.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said: "I've been getting regular calls from business leaders emphasising the need to widen the offer for Heathrow services and so we are naturally delighted to see British Airways responding. We are confident the demand is there and that BA will be commercially justified in their decision."
British Airways also operates up to five return services a day between Glasgow and London City Airport and up to four a day between Glasgow and Gatwick.
Tony Davies, British Airways regional customer services manager, UK regions, said the decision to increase capacity was the result of significantly greater demand on the airline's Glasgow - Heathrow service because of changes in the market earlier this year.
"Because the changes in the Glasgow market came very late as we approached the summer 2011 flying season, we reacted quickly and were able to increase capacity by more than five percent on the Heathrow service, as well as adding an extra daily flight to London City.
"Now, having had time to look at our schedule in detail, we have been able to add a further 4,000 seats a week on our Heathrow service and look forward to carrying even more passengers in the coming year.
"We are aware that British Airways is now the only airline with services connecting Glasgow Airport with the UK's only international hub airport at Heathrow and of the importance of that connection to the economy of Glasgow, the west of Scotland and the country as a whole.
"This significant increase in capacity and recent developments at Glasgow airport, such as the opening of our new ticket desk at Glasgow Airport by chief executive Keith Williams and the recruitment of qualified engineers and apprentices at our Glasgow engineering base, clearly indicate the importance that British Airways attaches to our Glasgow operation."
"We remain fully committed to operating the most extensive schedule of any airline between Scotland and London's Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports, connecting business and leisure passengers with hundreds of destinations on our global network and the networks of Iberia, our joint business partner in IAG, American Airlines and the oneworld Alliance."
Amanda McMillan, managing director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce platinum partner Glasgow Airport, said: "In recent months we have been unable to meet the high demand for flights into Heathrow so British Airway's decision to significantly increase capacity on our most popular and busiest route is tremendous news.
"The airport, along with the business community, has stressed the importance of having more available seats and flights to and from Heathrow, and we are absolutely delighted BA has responded in this way.
"The addition of 4,000 extra seats is fantastic news for customers and will undoubtedly enhance Glasgow's business and leisure connectivity to Europe's largest hub airport."
